Dialogue on Youth Volunteerism, Flood Relief and Climate Resilience in Pakistan

Voice of Now and NUST School of Government Public Policy present a dialogue between youth and volunteers working on flood relief, together with small organizations mobilizing communities and funding for flood relief efforts.

The dialogue aims to foster a critical debate and exchange of ideas among those working on the ground, aspiring volunteers, particularly youth, and individuals from flood-affected areas in Pakistan. It also involves those who serve as links between unaffected and affected regions, ensuring that relief materials, finances, and volunteer efforts are effectively channeled.

The goal is to assess the readiness and interest of Pakistani youth in climate resilience and emergency preparedness, the engagement level of smaller organizations and practitioners, and the observed enthusiasm from the youth. It questions what improvements are necessary to mainstream these efforts and what structures the local and provincial governments should establish to support youth volunteerism, seed funding, and the efficient delivery of flood relief resources and emergency response kits.

The critical debate will be steered along priority areas defined by the EU

• Human Dignity and Inclusion: By focusing on effective, corruption-free aid mobilization, the event addresses the urgent need to protect the human dignity of the displaced and ensure aid reaches every citizen, reflecting the EU’s value of Inclusion.
• The Green Transition as a Civic Duty: Participants will assess the role of Pakistani youth in driving climate resilience and emergency preparedness. This shifts the Green Transition from a global policy goal to a local, immediate civic responsibility.
• Participation and Innovation: The discussion will highlight the power of digital mediums for streamlining volunteer efforts and generating seed funding—demonstrating how community resilience and Participation in Democratic Life are built from the ground up during a crisis.
• Knowledge Exchange and Fostering Collaboration: As South Asia faces volatile climate change in absence of government led safety nets the role of community resilience, knowledge exchange and pitching for global collaborations becomes critical in preventing climate induced migration across regions, and streamlining of international aid for climate response.

Speakers:
Subhash Chander
Rubab Haider
Erum Khan
Moderators:
Dr Uzair Hashmi
Noorulain Naseem